Container with closure and dispensing cap



p 19, 1967 F. J. KNIGHT 3,342,385

CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE AND DISPENSING CAP Filed Dec. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY WW% ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1967 F. J. KNIGHT 3,342,385

CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE AND DISPENS ING CAP Filed Dec. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,342,385 CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE AND DISPENSING CAP Francis J. Knight, New Brunswick, N.J., assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 514,848 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-485) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a dispensing container particularly suitable for powdered materials which container is provided with a sifterless cap having one or more openings adapted to move into and out of mating engagement with grooves formed on the inner surface of the container neck upon clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the cap. In conjunction with moving of the openings or apertures into mating engagement with the grooves on the container neck, slotted passageways formed in an inner wall depending from the under surface of the top of the sifterless cap also move into interconnecting alignment with the grooves formed on the inner surface of the container neck to provide passageways from the interior of the container to the atmosphere through the openings or apertures provided in the top of the sifterless cap.

This invention relates to an improvement in a container and more particularly to a container with a closure cap suitable for dispensing materials such as powders.

The improved container has a neck with a filler opening adapted to be closed by a cap which fits over the neck. The cap is provided with two concentric radially spaced side walls depending from the under surface of the horizontal fiat top. The outer side wall is provided on its inner surface with an inwardly directed peripheral bead around its lowermost portion which is adapted to snap fit over the neck of the container into a corresponding recess to rotatably secure the cap to the container. The inner side wall fits snugly within the filler opening in the neck of the container and is provided with one or more vertical slots which are adapted to be aligned with corresponding grooves on the interior surface of the filler opening. One or more dispensing openings through the top wall of the cap are located between the two concentric depending side walls and each dispensing opening is in line with a corresponding vertical slot provided on the inner side wall of the cap.

An inwardly directed vertical protrusion on the inside of the outer side wall of the cap is adapted to engage selectively one of two closely spaced vertical grooves or depressions on the outer surface of the container neck to limit rotation of the cap with respect to the container neck between the the dispensing and nondispensing positions.

By the construction summarized above, I have been able to eliminate a separate sifter element required heretofore in sifter top powder containers. In addition, the simplified form of the closure cap of my invention completely prevents dusting out of the powder within the container when the cap is in a closed position. Furthermore, because the path for ejecting the powdered contents within the container is not in a straight line as with sifter top containers heretofore available but is somewhat obstructed, better control in the amount of the powdered contents dispensed by the closure cap of my invention is obtained.

A better understanding of the invention will be had from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the closure cap embodying the present invention as seen looking towards the under side of the cap;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the closure cap looking downwardly on the top thereof;

' FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the container looking downwardly into the filling opening in the neck thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the container taken on the center line of the cap when the latter is in its nondispensing or closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmented vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the cap in its dispensing position;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line 66 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the cap in a nondispensing or closed position;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional view on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5 illustrating the cap in an open, dispensing position;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged partial, vertical, sectional view of the upper portion of the container similar to FIG- URES 4 and 5, but taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 through the cap rotation limiting means;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective View of another embodiment of the closure cap similar to the view illustrated in FIG- URE 2 but wherein the closure cap includes a plurality of dispensing apertures; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the container embodiment employed with the cap embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 9 and showing an equal plurality of vertical grooves in the neck thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention, in its preferred form, contemplates a container 10 with side walls and a bottom wall (not shown) and with a top including a vertical cylindrical neck 11 defining an opening 12 giving access to the interior of the container (FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6). The neck 11, somewhat below its top edge, presents on its outer cylindrical surface a horizontal circumferential recessed groove 13. The neck 11 also presents on its inner cylindrical surface a vertical groove 15 which extends from the top of the neck down to a point somewhat above the inner bottom edge of the neck. There is further provided on the outer surface of the neck 11, a pair of closely spaced vertical grooves 17 and 19, which are separated from one another by a vertical ridge 20, the height of which is slightly less than the depth of the grooves 17 and 19 in the neck 11. The purpose of the outer circumferentially disposed recessed groove 13, the vertical groove 15 and the spaced vertical grooves 17 and 19, separated by the ridge 20, will be evident as the description of the invention proceeds.

The opening 12 in the container neck 11 is adapted to i be closed by an outer cap member 22 (FIGURES 1, 2, 4,

5 and 6). Outer cap member 22 has a flat horizontal circular top 24 formed with two concentric radially spaced side walls 25 and 26 depending from the under surface thereof. The outer side wall 25 depends from the horizontal circular top 24 at-the peripheral edge of the latter and is provided on its inner surface with an inwardly directed circumferential bead 28 around its lower portion which is adapted to snap fit over the neck 11 of the container 10 into the corresponding horizontal circumferential groove 13 to rotatably secure the cap 22 to the container 10. The outer surface of the outer depending wall 25 in the cap 22 presents a series of closely spaced vertical ridges 30 which provide a grip to facilitate turning of the cap 22. The outer side wall 25 of the cap is also provided on its inner surface with an inwardly directed, vertical protrusion 31 which is adapted to selectively engage one of the pair of spaced vertical grooves 17 or 19 on the outer surface of the neck 11.

The inner side wall 26 fits snugly within the filler opening 12 of the neck 11 and is provided with a vertical 3, slot 32 extending from the lower edge thereof upwardly to a point short of the top of the inner wall 26. The vertical slot 32 in the inner wall 26 is adapted to mate with the vertical groove 15 formed on the inner surface of the neck 11.

The circular top portion 24 of the cap 22 is formed with a dispensing aperture 34 radially positioned between the inner 26 and outer 25 depending walls of the cap 12. The aperture 34 is located in the circular top 24 between the inner and outer Walls in angular alignment about the axis of said cap with the vertical slot 32 provided in the inner wall 26. The aperture 34 has a section 36 of small diameter near the under side of the cap 22 and a section 38 which flares outwardly from the small section 36 toward the top surface of the cap 22. The smaller section 36 of the aperture 34 controls the amount of material dispensed but the depth of the smaller section 36 is kept to a minimum consistent with required strength in order to diminish tendency to clog.

The container including its neck portion 11 can be metal or any other suitable substance but a plastic material is preferred from which the parts can be molded. The cap member 22, however, must have a certain degree of yield and on this account the selection of material from which it can be made is more limited than is the selection of materials for the container 10. The cap member 22 preferably can be made of a high density polyethylene or any other suitable material that will provide equivalent yieldability.

To join the container 10 and the cap member 22 into an operating unit which contains a powdered material that is alternately sealed therein and dispensed therefrom, the cap 22 is pushed downwardly on the neck 11 of the container 10 along their common axis in which relationship the inner depending wall 26 fits snugly against the inside surface of the neck 11 of the container 10. Also, prior to pushing the cap 22 downwardly over the neck 11 of the container 10, the cap 22 and the neck 11 of the container 10 are positioned in an angular relationship about their common axis such that the vertical protrusion 31 positioned on the inner surface of the outer wall 25 of the cap is in alignment with either of the pair of closely spaced grooves 17 and 19 formed on the outer surface of the neck 11.

Following the axial and angular positioning of the cap 22 and the container 10, with respect to one another, the cap 22 is forced downwardly over the neck 11 of the container 10 until the inwardly directed circumferential bead 28 positioned at the lower edge of the outer wall 25 of the cap 22 snaps into the circumferential groove 13 on the outer surface of the container neck 11. The relative positioning of the circumferential groove 13 and the circumferential bead 28 on the neck 11 and cap 22, respectively, is selected such that upon engagement therebetween the top surface of the neck 11 abuts firmly against the under surface of the circular top 24 of the cap 22 existent between the depending concentric side walls 25 and 26.

It is also to be noted that when the vertical protrusion 31 on the inner surface of the outer depending wall 25 of the cap 22 and vertical groove 17 of the pair of spaced vertical grooves on the outer surface of the neck 11 are in mating engagement, the vertical groove formed on the inner surface of the neck 11 and the vertical slot 32 formed in the inner depending wall 26 of the cap 22 are angularly aligned with the lower end of the groove 15 extending slightly below the upper end of the slot 32. This occurs because the slot 32 and the groove 15 are each formed in their respective members with the upper end of the slot 32 and the lower end of the groove 15 terminating respectively above and below a common plane horizontal to the axis of the neck 11 and the cap 22 when joined together into an operating unit.

Further, when the cap is in the above angular position relative to the neck 11 of the container 10, the aperture 34 in the top surface 24 of the cap 22 is overlying the 4 upper end of the groove 15 formed on the inner surface of the neck 11. Thus it is seen, that an open path is provided from the interior to the exterior of the container in sequence, through slot 32, groove 15 and aperture 34.

The container unit is changed from a dispensing condition to a nondispensing, sealed condition by rotation of the cap with respect to the container in a direction causing the vertical protrusion 31 on the inner surface of the outer depending Wall 25 of the cap 22 to slide yieldably over the vertical ridge 20 separating the spaced vertical grooves 17 and 19 on the outer surface of the neck 11 into the other vertical groove 19. In so doing, the aperture '34 in the top 24 of the cap 22 moves angularly out of alignment with the underlying groove 15 on the inner surface of the neck 11. In this position, the container is closed by the upper surface of the neck being in close sealing engagement with the under surface of the top 24 existent between the concentric depending walls 25 and 26, thereby closing off both the upper end of groove 15 in the neck 11 of the container 10 and the aperture 34 in the top 24 of the cap 22.

As previously stated, the container itself including the neck portion thereof can be made of relatively rigid material while the cap member must, to a certain degree, be yieldable. It is preferred, however, that the container, the neck portion thereof and the cap be made of the same material throughout. In such instances, the material of the container will be yieldable too, particularly if the con tainer is made by conventional blow molding techniques. When so formed, ejection of the powdered contents contained within the container of the present invention is greatly enhanced upon the exertion of a squeezing force to the container. Thus it is seen, that the container of the present invention is also suitable for providing, in fact, a so called squeeze bottle dispenser.

While my invention so far has been described in connection with one embodiment thereof, many modifications can be included within its spirit. For example, the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 8 illustrates a container and closure dispensing cap employing but a single dispensing opening. Referring to FIGURES 9 and 10, such a modification is shown in that a container 10 and cap 22 are provided in which there are a plurality of dispensing openings 34. All that is required to provide this embodiment is a plurality of dispensing apertures 34 located in the top 24 of the cap 22, which dispensing apertures are maintained in angular alignment with the grooves 15 formed in the inner surface of the neck 11 of the container 10. The inner side wall of the cap 22 (as illustrated and described with respect to FIGURE 1) is provided with an equal plurality of vertical slots 32 (not shown) which are in angular alignment with the dispensing apertures 34. By this modification, there is provided a container for powdered materials made within the scope of the present invention which container has a plurality of dispensing openings.

Other modifications will similarly be apparent to those skilled in the art and accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser container comprising: a vertical cylindrical neck having an opening providing access to the interior of the container; a cap having a horizontal, fiat, top wall equipped with a dispensing aperture and inner and outer radially spaced, concentric side walls depending from the under surface of said top wall on opposite sides of said aperture; said cap covering the opening in said neck and being in axial alignment therewith, the inner side wall of said cap overlying the inner surface of said neck within said opening and having a vertical slot extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof; said slot being in angular alignment with said aperture about the axis of said cap; said neck being provided on the inner surface thereof with a vertical groove extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, the upper end of said slot and the lower end of said groove each terminating respectively above and below a common plane horizontal to the axis of said cap; said cap and said neck being relatively rotatable about their axes and having interlocking means therebetween permitting said aperture and said slot to move in a limited rotational path into and out of registry with said groove to permit and prevent dispensing material from said container respectively, and holding means preventing said cap and said neck from moving in an axial direction relative to one another thereby providing a seal between the top wall of said cap and the upper edge of said neck when said aperture and said slot are moved out of registry with said groove.

2. A dispenser container according to claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises a vertical ridge on the inner surface of said outer depending Wall of said cap and a pair of vertical grooves on the outer surface of said neck, said ridge and said grooves being angularly positioned with respect to their common axis such that said ridge is movable selectively into engagement with either of said grooves upon rotation of said cap relative to said neck into and out of dispensing positions.

3. A dispenser container according to claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises an inwardly directed circumferential bead at the lower edge of said outer depending wall of said cap and a circumferential horizontal groove on the outer surface of said neck, spaced axially from the top of said neck a distance substantially equal to the axial distance between said inwardly directed circumferential bead and the bottom surface of said top wall of said cap.

4. A dispenser container according to claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises a vertical ridge on the inner surface of said outer depending wall of said cap and a pair of vertical grooves on the outer surface of said neck, said ridge and said grooves being angularly positioned with respect to their common axis such that said ridge is movable selectively into engagement with either of said grooves upon rotation of said cap relative to said neck into and out of dispensing positions and wherein said holding means comprises an inwardly directed circumferential bead at the lower edge of said outer depending wall of said cap and a circumferential horizontal groove on the outer surface of said neck, spaced axially from the top of said neck a distance substantially equal to the axial distance between said inwardly directed circumferential bead and the bottom surface of said top wall of said cap.

5. A dispenser container according to claim 1 wherein said top wall of said cap is equipped with a plurality of apertures, said inner side wall has an equal plurality of vertical slots and said neck on the inner surface thereof is provided with an equal plurality of vertical grooves.

6. A dispenser container according to claim 1 wherein said cap is formed from a yieldable plastic material.

7. A dispenser container according to claim 6 wherein said container and said neck are also formed from a yield able plastic material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,118,578 1/1964 Collins 222548 3,121,519 2/1964 Oherba 222-519 3,125,260 3/1964 Dreps 222548 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER CONTAINER COMPRISING: A VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL NECK HAVING AN OPENING PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER; A CAP HAVING A HORIZONTAL, FLAT, TOP WALL EQUIPPED WITH A DISPENSING APERTURE AND INNER AND OUTER RADIALLY SPACED, CONCENTRIC SIDE WALLS DEPENDING FROM THE UNDER SURFACE OF SAID TOP WALL ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID APERTURE; SAID CAP COVERING THE OPENING IN SAID NECK AND BEING IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, THE INNER SIDE WALL OF SAID CAP OVERLYING THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID NECK WITHIN SAID OPENING AND HAVING A VERTICAL SLOT EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF; SAID SLOT BEING IN ANGULAR ALIGNMENT WITH SAID APERTURE ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID CAP; SAID NECK BEING PROVIDED ON THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF WITH A VERTICAL GROOVE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF, THE UPPER END OF SAID SLOT AND THE LOWER END OF SAID GROOVE EACH TERMINATING RESPECTIVELY ABOVE AND BELOW A COMMON PLATE HORIZONTAL TO THE AXIS OF SAID CAP; SAID CAP AND SAID NECK BEING RELATIVELY ROTATABLE ABOUT THEIR AXES AND HAVING INTERLOCKING MEANS THEREBETWEEN PERMITTING SAID APERTURE AND SAID SLOT TO MOVE IN A LIMITED ROTATIONAL PATH INTO AND OUT OF REGISTRY WITH SAID GROOVE TO PERMIT AND PRECENT DISPENSING MATERIAL FROM SAID CONTAINER RESPECTIVELY, AND HOLDING MEANS PREVENTING SAID CAP AND SAID NECK FROM MOVING IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER THEREBY PROVIDING A SEAL BETWEEN THE TOP WALL OF SAID CAP AND THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID NECK WHEN SAID APERTURE AND SAID SLOT ARE MOVED OUT OF REGISTRY WITH SAID GROOVE. 